Going Barefoot

I have really slacked on blogging lately.  I'm sure all 5 of my readers have been VERY disappointed.

Anywho, I read an interesting article on barefoot running the other day.  Here is the link. 

While I think that the study had some limitations (I'm too lazy to go into everything right now), it is still thought provoking and it reinforces the fact that there is always new research being done and that we should always be open minded to different viewpoints- for everything in life.

This study definitely did not change the fact that I am a proponent of minimalist running-maybe I will dedicate a whole post to it at some point-and my running has benefited greatly from it.  But I am not about to run around Camarillo completely barefoot.  That would just be ridiculous and dangerous and I would probably get Tetanus.  I do still want to buy some Vibrams though.

Not my pic. I know they look weird and I will get made fun of.

Until I purchase some of those, my new Nike Frees will have to do.

Yay!

I'm thinking of starting some sort of running blog... Don't know what the set up would be or when it would actually happen, but I would love to post articles, give advice, start discussions, etc.  

Heading out for a run!

Speculoos

Yesterday, Matt sent me a picture message of a jar of peanut-butter-looking stuff that said "Speculoos Cookie Butter."  While I was trying to sound out "speculoos" Taylor freaked out and said something to the effect of, "Ohh my gosh, Speculoos!  It tastes like Teddy Grahams!  It's so good!"  Apparently, it is a famous foreign spread.  Why nobody informed me of it sooner, I have no idea.

Matt went in to Trader Joe's while he was working, and the sample lady (who I guess is always very nice to the EMTs and generous with her samples) gave him a sample of the Speculoos with apple and an english muffin.  Matt liked it so much that he bought some for us.

Speculoos kind of reminds me of Nutella in a way... an alternative to peanut butter that can be used on fruit, bread, ice cream, in baked goods, etc.  It kind of tastes like gingerbread cookies, but it's not Christmas-y enough for me to ban year-round and the ginger flavor isn't too strong.  And it's not too sweet, either (I think Nutella is sweeter).  It's so creamy and spicy and delicious... I could eat it by the spoonful. 

While doing "research" for this post (clearly being productive with my day off) I came across a few people hating on the product for being "unhealthy" and whatnot.  Nowhere on the label does it claim to be healthy, so people need to relax.  Plus, it's not actually that bad for you.  Haters gonna hate, I guess.

This girl did a great, short review of this wonderful stuff.

You can read about the origins of Speculoos here and about the drama surrounding the patent here.

Thanks, Trader Joe's, for giving me another reason to love you and for providing me with another yummy snack!

Love Note

It's 12:26 am (0026 in nursing time) and I have a midterm tomorrow!  Why am I not studying, you ask? 

Well, I had clinical from 1-8, showered, studied for a little while, watched Top Chef, studied for a little longer... and now I'm over it.

I'm mostly over it because this teacher is a real (insert choice of not-nice names) and I think it was so mean of her to give the test on a Thursday, when half of the class has clinical on Wednesday and Thursday.  I'm just too fried to focus on studying.  Now I'm overtired and wouldn't be able to fall asleep right now.  So, I'm doing this post and then going to bed.  Did I mention I"m leaving for class at 8 am?  Should be a spectacular day.

Alright I'm done with that.  On to Valentine's Day.

We've never really done much for Valentine's Day.  We've never gone out to dinner.  We did gifts the first couple of years (Matt got me some really cute heart earrings once), but not anymore.  I did have a feeling that some sort of decoration would be waiting for me when I got back from picking up my patients for clinical.

 I was right!

We went over to my parents' house to drop off some goodies, then headed over to Coffee Bean (it was buy one get one free!) so I could work on my care plan.

 Two of my favorite things!

Matt was in charge of dinner.  He made a marinated pork loin from TJ's, mashed potatoes (his first time ever making them) and some sauteed zucchini and squash.  It was delish!

 The photograph doesn't really show the deliciousness

I was in charge of dessert.  I made these mini heart cheesecakes the day before, but they kind of failed.  I added some red food coloring to make them pink...  I didn't want to go overboard, and I didn't add enough and they ended up coming out kind of orange.  Also, I baked them WAY longer than it said to, because they just wouldn't cook through.  They still fell!  I just put some strawberries on top and called it a day. They tasted super yummy at least and my Valentine liked them.

 Cheesecake for a cheesy holiday.

I suppose I should study a little longer.  Really really looking forward to tomorrow.  Really.

Monday Monday

I had high hopes for today.  I even had a little list written out on the whiteboard on my refrigerator.  The day started out well because I woke up with a new tattoo (that sounded like someone did it to me in my sleep).

 

Yay!

I had a test this morning and was planning on coming home, eating lunch, working out, putting laundry away/putting clean sheets on the bed, making dinner, doing some stuff for work, and cleaning some silver jewelry that's gotten really tarnished 

Actually, now that I'm looking at this, I did everything on the list except for working out.  Ha!  Maybe I thought I did less because I didn't work out and that made me feel bad about myself?  It's just hard for me to be motivated when Monday is the only day of the week that I have a good chunk of time to do nothing.  So instead of working out, I watched Hoarders, went to Trader Joe's, and baked cookies.  That's a pretty good trade off, I'd say.

For dinner I made a salad with baby romaine, baby spinach, Gorgonzola cheese, dried cranberries, candied walnuts, and green apple.  I whipped up a little oil/vinegar/mustard dressing to go with it.  For the cookies I made the same tea cakes I made a few weeks ago and froze half the dough for the next time I have a craving.

If you're eating by yourself, you might as well make it pretty.

As far as the test goes, I got an 82%.  That is above the average for the class, but not as good as the A I pulled last time.  However, I probably put in a total of 5 hours of study time... so the 82 is fine.  Oh yea, about that "be a better studier" resolution... Well, next time.

Overall, it was a good day- minus the fact that Matt is working and I've been alone at the apartment.  Boring!

Basically any day that I successfully wrangle a fitted sheet is a good day, let's be honest.

Off to enjoy some tea, a tea cake (or 3) and The Voice!

Since I last blogged...

1.  I got an A on the first test of NS30.  Woot woot! 

2.  I went on a date.  We had a gift card to Muvico and Matt signed up for a newsletter so we could get a free popcorn.  He also signed up for a newsletter to get $5 off at CPK... every dollar counts when you're poor!

 Not a very good pic, but whatever.

3.  I found out how to wear white in winter (thanks Today Show) and wore it on said date.

4.  I played bocce ball and had "adult rootbeer floats" with friends.  I was too busy having fun to take pictures. In case you're wondering, an adult rootbeer float has a splash of Kahlua in it.  It is so delicious.

5.  I saw family members I haven't seen in 3 years.  Surprisingly, it wasn't even awkward.

6.  I made zucchini bread using this recipe (with some healthy tweaks), vegetable soup using this recipe (without mushrooms, ew), and some pasta (from Giada's book... can't find it online) and Caesar salad with homemade croutons.  All were yummy.

 So good.

7.  I took care of a couple awesome patients who had the best attitudes.  One was a woman who had a total shoulder replacement and she and her husband have done multiple marathons.  The other was a sweet 82 year old who had a left side mastectomy and joked that her new nickname should be "Lefty."  She also asked me how my day was going every time I walked into the room.  So refreshing.

8.  I signed up for the Pasadena Marathon.  And Matt signed up, too!
 
9.  I passed a math test and now I am allowed to give IV push and IV piggy-back meds.  Like a real nurse.

10.  I ran 8 miles with Matt and his long legs at a 9:12 pace.

Weekend Update

Ok, so it's not technically the weekend... But today was a holiday, so it was a 3-day weekend... so it counts. Plus I have some news:

I survived the first week of school!! That's not really news, but whatever. It's a big deal to me. One week completed is one less week I have to go to complete this terrible semester.

The third semester in my nursing program is notorious for being the most difficult of the four. When I was in my first semester, the class in the third semester lost 13 people. Thirteen people failed! Out of 50-60 people, that's a lot. That's why it is one of my New Years Resolutions to be a better studier.

My class has a facebook group, and today, one of my friends changed the group description to: "See course description in Dante's Inferno." It's seriously awful. I am already fairly overwhelmed. The only saving grace is that my clinical instructor seems fairly laid back and my clinical group is full of people I like. And I'm sure that the classroom stuff will be fine- with studying.

Moving on... Since I didn't have any patient prep work to do last Tuesday, I actually had time to make a meal and bake some cookies (gasp!). I adapted one of Giada's recipes and made a delicious pasta. Here is the recipe.

My changes are this: First of all, I didn't measure anything. And instead of using garlic croutons to make the bread crumbs, I just used regular breadcrumbs with Italian seasoning. I roasted 2 red peppers on my stove, while cooking the pasta. Then I sauteed some garlic in some olive oil and added a few handfuls of spinach to it. I sliced the red peppers and added them in with the garlic and spinach. Then I added the cooked pasta, mixed it all up, and sprinkled in some breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, and almonds (remember, I didn't measure anything). I also added a few spoonfuls of pasta water (Giada recommends that sometimes), a little more olive oil, and salt and pepper. It was yummy!

Fiery goodness

The final product

Earlier in the day, I was in the mood for a little treat to have with some tea.  I made Paula's Tea Cakes.  They were really good- not too sweet and perfect to go along with an afternoon tea.  I halfed the recipe (because I'm a pig and would have eaten all of them) and I didn't have any buttermilk.  I improvised and was going to use the lemon juice trick for the buttermilk, but I didn't have any lemons.  I did have a lime, so I used lime juice instead and it worked fine.  I want to make them again with some almonds and almond extract and maybe with some lemon juice and zest.

Afternoon treats

On Sunday, I headed to the Long Beach Swap Meet with Caitlin and my mom.  It was a very satisfying morning.  While the weather was less than desirable, the vendors did not disappoint and the people-watching was spectacular as usual.  We have decided that swap meets are the ultimate hipster hang out.  You should see the people at these things... between the hipsters and some of these old ladies... wow.  I should have taken some pictures.  Next time.  

Mom insisted the "was a draft" in the car and used 

the sun shield thing as a blanket.

Cait- umbreallaless, hoodless, and hatless

Well, that was my week.  Coming up this week... First patient care days and a ton of studying to do for my first test next Monday.  Should be spectacular!

Jean and Mike's Visit

This week, Matt's parents came out from Illinois for a visit.

We see them about every 6 months, which is pretty good considering the distance, but it isn't nearly often enough and we always hate saying goodbye.  During this trip, we joked a lot about what we will do if any of us win the lottery or fall into some money somehow.  It would be so nice to be able to go to Illinois for a long weekend, or to have them come here for a special event they would otherwise miss.  We can dream, can't we?

We enjoyed 2 beach days, took a drive downtown to go to The Grove and the LACMA, had a dinner at my parents' house, played some cards and dominoes, and just enjoyed hanging out with each other.  **Side note:  Speaking of downtown... Matt and I decided we need to take better advantage of all of the activities LA has to offer and head down there more often

 January 4th... 78 degrees!

Dolphin watching

At The Grove

Mama's boy

LACMA

Some intense bocce ball at Carpinteria

Matt and I will be heading to Illinois in late May or early June, and we're already looking forward to it... Especially because we have a new niece that will be making her appearance in April!

Stay tuned for some posts about how terrible/stressful/anxiety-provoking school is... I start back this week.  Eeeek.